Whats your bid on this mystery 81D?

[RustyGold]

and two more

[MoonDawg]

        Oh no my friend, that one is also TOO nice to restore!  

        This truly defines the meaning of beginners luck.

[RustyGold]

       Oh no my friend, that one is also TOO nice to restore!  

    

Really?  I dunno.  It does have some rust popping in the back as you can see in the pictures.  It would be nice to blast it all away. 

[Eric]

Ha.. Way to go... look at the starting line up you have going there.. that's awesome.. (Looks like the ST is jealous as it has its back turned to the round tops)
Yeah agree with Moondawg too good of a survivor to mess with now... save that resto money for the next machine!  You did the right thing by passing
and getting this one! Wow - Congrats!!  

As far as rust... Don't do a full restoration.. just address the small problems around the beltline/back so they don't turn into bigger ones.... It's too good looking
of a machine, in my opinion.

[SIGNGUY]

agreed, too nice to do a full restoration.. do a refurbishment on it and enjoy that original look ...

there are products out there to stop the rust, and clean up the surface...

great original,,

refresh the insulation, gaskets,  wiring and clean it up real good!

[BONOVOX]

If you restore that machine, I am calling the Vendo Cops on you!!  WAAAAAAAAAAY too nice of a machine to restore!!!
I would take a very nice original over a restored machine any day of the week!

Nice pick up!  Looks like you are on a nice roll....  (and both machines having a Bubble Up decal.... what are the odds? lol)

 

[RustyGold]

Thanks guys.  I'm still not sold on leaving it be. I have a survivor 39 for that!   We'll see...

I have a question about the serial number.  Based on what I have learned about Vendo serial numbers, the date is coded as the prefix.  So if that's true than this 81B was made in 1959?  Not possible right?  

The second photo is the compressor ID plate

[jt2139]

Don't think Rick has ever turned a D into a B.  Congratulations.

[Kilroy]

I am reasonably sure the 81B was only produced in  1956. Serial number listings  provided by Grand America Jukebox's web site  seems to support this


Year    Coca Cola Vendo 81 Serial Numbers

1955       1001 thru 11779
1956       11780 thru 21213
1957       21214 thru 33162
1958       33163 thru 37737
1959       Discontinue of "Round Corner" version

http://www.grandamericajukebox.com/page12.htm

[RustyGold]

I am reasonably sure the 81B was only produced in  1956. Serial number listings  provided by Grand America Jukebox's web site  seems to support this


Year    Coca Cola Vendo 81 Serial Numbers

1955       1001 thru 11779
1956       11780 thru 21213
1957       21214 thru 33162
1958       33163 thru 37737
1959       Discontinue of "Round Corner" version

http://www.grandamericajukebox.com/page12.htm

Thanks.  It has to be a 56.  The compressor is a 56, and it's an 81B.  The year code on my machine is "9".  Whats an upside down 9?  ....Exactly.